Adjustable friction-holding appliance



'June l0 .1924. i w. J. FRINK ADJUSTABLE' FRIcTIoN HOLDING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 20. y1922 rl. Ik

Patented June 10, 1924.

,UNITED fsT'ArEs PATENT ori-"Icey WALTER J'. FRINK, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

` i ADJUSTABLE FRICTIO'N-HOLDING APPLIANCE.

i Application inea November 2o, 1922. sei-iai No. 601,957.

To all lwko/m, t may concern:

' Be it known that I, WALTER J. FRINK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Friction-Holding Appliances, of which the fol- 'lowing is a specification. o

The present invention relates to friction clamps or locking devices for association with windows and the like, such as basement orv easement windows, whereby they may be frictionally held or maintained in any de sired position, the .appliance permitting ready adjustment thereof for modification or change of such position.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention comprises the use of a rod pivotally fastened to the hinged member, such as the windowfto be held inV place, which is encircled by a coiled spring having an end pivotally attached to the Casement or frame in which the window is' mounted, and which has a normal bias or tendency to bend longitudinally-intoiacurved form, so that when it is held straight by the rod around which it is coiled, it-will frictionally grasp the rod .and'hold it vfrom sliding therethrough except when suchfriction isk intentionall overcome yby forcing the rod through'sucl elastic retainer when it is desired to change the position of theiwindow.

In order to reenforce such spring itis conveniently enclosed or encased in a metal shell or casing likewise hinged to the casing.

Such shell or tube removes undue strain from the spring when it is swung sidewise during the indicated adjustment, and its employment, in some cases at least,apermits the use of a spring of a smaller gauge of wire than would be feasible if the shell were omitted. i

The improved device is particularly, but not restrictedly, adapted for use in connection with cellar or basement windows hinged at their tops, but, of course, it'has many other desirable and efficient uses in similar relations.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and complete understanding of the invention and its several structural and functional advantages, in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and throughout the several views of which like reference characters have been used to designate the same parts, Ihave il* lustrated a common embodiment of the invention, which is presented vby way of eX- ample only, since the invention is susceptible `ofa variety of embodiments differing more or less in mechanical details buty all including the benefits and advantages incidentto the employment of the invention in any of its several forms.

- In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a vertically disposed window hinged at its top to its frame, the window and frame being equipped with one of the improved and novel holding orilocking appliances, such view in dotted lines showing thewindow part way open; r; l

Figure 2 is a fragmentary faceview or .elevation of thevstructure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is any enlarged longitudinal SeC- tion through the friction holding device;

Figure 4 is a-face view of the spring forming a part of the lock shown in Figures 1 and 2; and i Figure 5 is a side view of the samey spring showing its natural or inherent tendency 'to bendor curve laterally. j

- Referring to these views of the drawing. it will be perceived that there hasv been shown a part of the window-casing 11 in association with the windowl 1Q hinged at its top edge to the casing at 13 so vthat it may be swung up to open position or turned down into fully closed position, the window being depicted in an intermediate part-open positionin dotted lines and in closed relation in full lines. v .i j A A cylindrical metal rod 14, having a bent end forming a stop 15, is pivotally connected at its other end at 16 to a suitable bracket 17 mounted on the hinged frame of the wine dow between its' edge equipped with the hinges and its opposite free edge.

A coiled wire spring 18 having a normal orl natural tendency or bias to curve 0r bend laterally, as shown in Figure 5, has an end portion shaped to form a small loop or eye 19, the main coiled part of the spring encircling or encasing the rod 14 which it frictionally grasps, the rod holding the spring substantially straight as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3. y

The attempt of the coils of thespring to bend transversely of the length of the spring as a whole causes an effective frictional lgrasp thereof on the ro'd extended through-it.

A sheet-metal shell or sleeve 20 encloses or houses the spring and a screw 2l pivotally attaches an extension 22 of the sleeve and the loop 19 of the spring to the Windowscasing.

As the window is swungy `onits hinges, the associated elements 18 and 2() rock correspondingly on their hinge mounting 2l and the rod slides through the clamping and :grasping coils of the spring.

The turns or lloops of the spring have a sufficient friction-al hold yon the rod sov that they will maintainthe window fiXedly and firmly in any `desired position or degree of opening, lont, nevertheless, they permittne ready adjustment of the window to new po'- sitions by merely temporarily lovercoming they riic'tional hold of the spring on the rod by slidinfg 'the latter through the former as theA position of the window is `changed" or varied.v

If the spring-is made of a wire of suincient cross-section, the louter sleeve for tube may be dispensed with, but its use permits the employment of a spring of wire of less siney than would otherwise be feasible "be-- cause it assumes much of the side strains which would be imposed on the spring' if thevla'tter were usedy alone.

In other words, the 'sleeve or shell reenforces the spring and protects it against un'- due or excessive strains due to its'a'oclring or swinging around its pivotal `mounting.

The bent end i5 'of thev rod Eprecludes complete withdrawal ofthe latter from the spring 'and vhence there i'sno danger of unintentional separation of these parts.

The invention is capable of lincorporation in physical form in several ways 'and all of such different structures will include the structural and' functional advantages aris- "out Aof the use thereof. Consequently, the invention isnot limited and restrict-'ed tothe precise and exact details shown and described. f

l. In an adjustable friction 'holding ap` plian'ce of the character described, the combination of a coiled spring having a normal tendency to bend laterally and adapted to be secured to one of two members hinged together, and a rod designed` to bei secured to the other of said members and extended through the coils of said spring and of a shape different from the normal form of the spring, whereby the latter frictionally grasps such rod but permits its longitudinafl sliding therethrough for adjustment.

2. In an adjustable friction holding appliance of the character described,.thefconr bination' of a coiled Ispriifr, means toattach said spring to one of two nienibers hinged together, :a rod, and means to :attach saltirod to the other of saidl memrbezr'sysaid: rod c extendingthrough the fcci'lsl of sai'd spring and fricti'ona'lly held against longitirdinal movement in the springV by fdirect Contact with fthe coils of the spring` 3. In an adjustable' vfriction hol-ding aps. pl-ianc'e of the character described, tli'eV com; binatifo'n Lorf a coiled helical :springhavun'ga normal tendency :to 'bend laterally *and constructed for pivotal attachment to one off two Imembers hinged together-,savirodexf tended through the .coils 'oatlsaid fsprinfgand cfa shape d'ifferentffroni the norrnwl form 'of the spring whereby the coi-lsoftheflatter frictionalfly grasp the rod,` said rod-'ubeing constructed Vfor pivotal, attachment to' :the

other-of said members, andfmea-ns fto re`en-l forcev said spring. I

In fan adjustable friction holdiing.ap-` pliance of the character described', the com@ bination 'of fa helical springrhaivingamdend formed for pivotal` 'attachmentv -toone* oi two members lhinged: together, .said spring having a `normal tendency tobendl laterally, a reenforcingfshe'll enclosing `said spring and having lanend portion )formed forrpifv'- WALTER J. FRINK. 

